Harvest labour: thinking outside the box
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Australian Fruitgrower
Summer 2020 • Vol 14 • Issue 4
Strategy sets export market
priorities
Quality opportunities from
larger seasonal crop
Optimising harvest outcomes
Harvest labour: thinking
outside the box
CONTENTS
A PA L N E W S D A T A A N D A N A LY S I S
CEO Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04
Pear volume share and growth by variety
Advocacy update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05
10.4% 36.4% 16.4%
APAL to deliver APFIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07
1.5% 3.0%
EXPORT 47.2%
23
-16.6%
Pears
Pears Williams Packham Other Williams Pears
Strategy sets export market priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Pears Pears Pears
Packham Pears
Source: Nielsen Homescan 52 weeks ending 04/10/2020 vs Years Ago
Copyright © 2020 The Nielsen Company (US), LLC. All Rights reserved.
F E AT U R E
Apples and pears continue favourites
10
Harvest labour: thinking
Quality opportunities from larger seasonal crop . . . . . .24
BIOSECURITY
Biosecurity – Responding to an incursion . . . . . . . . . . . 34
outside the box
RAISING THE BAR:
R&D-LED INSIGHTS INTO SMARTER GROWTH
Novel solutions offset shortage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Improving conditions to attract workers . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Harvest Army campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Thousands apply for Tas jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Flowering stage detection
38
Focus on less fruit, higher quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Adelaide proximity helps the hills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 shows ‘amazing’ accuracy
Finding workers this season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Powerful insight into block variation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Optimising your harvest outcomes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
S TAT E R O U N D U P PIPS3 to build whole-of-system understanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
State roundups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Plant pest surveillance goes mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Masterclass in Horticultural Business open for 2021 intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Food safety culture: a will paves the way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
QUALITY
Reducing the risk of patulin in apple juice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Quality standards drive mango growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Bushfire damage has lessons for future response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Flower bud identification for pruning and crop load management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
FUTURE BUSINESS
Alternative spray technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
One set of guidelines first step to showcasing value . . 29 International apple and pear research update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Integrated approach to energy underpins innovation . . 31
Quiz and crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
PUBLISHER MANAGING EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGN COPYRIGHT
Apple and Pear Australia Alison Barber Vale Graphics All material in Australian Fruitgrower is
copyright. NO material can be reproduced
Limited (APAL) is a not- E abarber@apal.org.au E angie@valegraphics.com.au in whole or in part without the permission
for-profit organisation that of the publisher. While every effort is made
ADVERTISING FRONT COVER to ensure the accuracy of contents, APAL
supports and provides services accepts no liability for the information.
to Australia’s commercial apple The publisher accepts no Fiona Hall, BiteRiot, NSW
and pear growers. responsibility for the contents (see page 10)
DISCLAIMER
Australian Fruitgrower Suite G01, 128 Jolimont Road, of advertisements. All Photo: Pip Farquharson.
East Melbourne VIC 3002 advertisements are accepted Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
in good faith and the liability BOOKING DEADLINES (Hort Innovation) and APAL make no
T (03) 9329 3511 representations and expressly disclaim
F (03) 9329 3522 of advertising content is the
Autumn 2021 all warranties (to the extent permitted by
apal.org.au responsibility of the advertiser. law) about the accuracy, completeness,
Ad bookings – 22 Jan 2021 or currency of information in Australian
Marc Wilson – Gypsy Media Editorial copy – 22 Jan 2021 Fruitgrower. Reliance on any information
provided by Hort Innovation and APAL is
M 0419 107 143 entirely at your own risk. Hort Innovation
Winter 2021
E apal@gypsymedia.com.au and APAL are not responsible for, and will
Ad bookings – 16 Apr 2021 not be liable for, any loss, damage, claim,
Editorial copy – 16 Apr 2021 expense, cost (including legal costs) or
other liability arising in any way, including
from any Hort Innovation, APAL or other
person’s negligence or otherwise from your
Wherever you see this logo, the initiative is part of the Hort Innovation use or non-use of Australian Fruitgrower, or
Apple and Pear Fund. Like this publication itself, it has been funded from reliance on information contained in
by Hort Innovation using the apple and pear levy and, in the case the material or that Hort Innovation or APAL
provide to you by any other means.
of R&D, with contributions from the Australian Government. Some
projects also involve funding from additional sources. ISSN 1447-5618
A PA L.O R G.A U AFG SUMMER 2020 | 3
CEO REPORT
labour supply for the coming harvest. Federal, state
Transparency and and local governments are listening and responding.
Recent APAL virtual orchard walks covered
planning and managing your crop load, prioritising
cooperation vital quality over quantity and working through what’s
needed to attract workers. The recurring theme 26%
to a safe and is there will be no silver bullet and it’s up to all of
us to address the obvious and also consider the
Increase in apple export value
between 2009 and 2019
successful harvest ‘1 percenters’ – the tiny components that could
18%
make the difference this season.
It’s increasingly apparent that transparency
P H I L I P T U R N B U L L – A PA L C E O and cooperation amongst all players is vital to Increase in pear export value
coordinating the mobilisation of all available labour between 2009 and 2019
resources. Crop planning and monitoring of crop (Source: Australian Horticulture Statistics
Handbook – see page 8)
loads is helping growers to more precisely specify
their labour needs and timing and then use this
5.3%
knowledge to plan in partnership with other growers,
hort sectors and labour hire firms. This data is also
assisting APAL to work with government and other
agencies to target and adjust labour-attraction Increase in dollar sales of
apples (domestic) year on year
programs and incentives.
Similarly, labour hire firms are encouraged to
adopt an ‘open book’ approach to provide assurance
that the promised labour supply is available and at 11.1%
what price! Like any market, price is the balancing
Increase in dollar sales of
factor between supply and demand – but market pears (domestic) year on year
distortions from inaccurate or inflated estimates (Source: Nielsen – see page 23)
of demand, supply or both will not create winners
Shaping the future this season.
Last month we successfully hosted our first ever
online APAL Annual General Meeting. It was a great Look beyond the stars
example of technology providing opportunity for our The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum
nation-wide membership to be a part of planning on Food Regulation has opted to postpone its
APAL’s future.
At the meeting, members confirmed the
reappointment of Greg Mouat representing NSW
decision on the proposed changes to the health star
rating for fruit and vegetables until February 2021. 24
There’s more about this in this month’s Advocacy Number of exotic pests/
growers and Kevin Sanders representing Victorian Update (page 5). diseases that could be
growers to the Board of APAL. There are exciting imported on US apples
(Source: US Apples Risk Assessment)
times ahead for APAL’s international programs and
US Apples Import Risk
their ability to underpin delivery of programs and
services for Australian producers. Assessment
Especially exciting is that from 1 July 2021 We continue to work closely with industry, state
the Future Orchards® program will shift from Hort associations on an industry response to the proposed
Innovation’s funding streams to APAL. Between now import of apples into Australia from the USA’s Pacific
and July we have an important window to recast North West. We will continue to advocate for proven
the program to match the needs of our industry. and effective safeguards to prevent the arrival of
More recently, the boards of APAL and the exotic pests. Our Advocacy Update (page 5) provides
Australian Pome Fruit Improvement Program (APFIP) more details on this issue.
have agreed that APAL will take over the delivery of
APFIP services including independent evaluation of End of challenging year
new apple and pear varieties and rootstocks, variety
importations and quarantine, and specific work With this edition of AFG, APAL wishes all our industry’s
on new varieties from Prevar. APAL will fund the businesses, families and individuals here in Australia
program providing greater long-term certainty and and overseas a merry Christmas and a safe and
removing the reliance on grower levies. prosperous new year. We also wish everyone the very
best for the harvest that will begin early in the new
year. We look forward to continuing to support our
Achieving success this season industry’s growth and success in 2021 and beyond.
APAL in partnership with state associations and the AFG
wider industry has been actively working through the
challenges and options that could boost the limited
4 | AFG SUMMER 2020 A PA L.O R G.A U
A DV O C A C Y U P DAT E
Other diseases could potentially impact
other fruit sectors particularly stone fruit, but also
Prioritise labour cherries and even citrus, such as Fruit tree leafroller,
Orange tortrix, Oriental fruit moth, cherry fruit worm,
requirements McDaniel spider mite, Apple maggot, Lygus bugs,
and Chaff scale.
Submissions to the draft report are due on
J E R E M Y G R I F F I T H – A PA L
21 January 2021, and, as previously advised, APAL
has engaged a biosecurity expert and established
a Biosecurity Steering Group to oversee the process.
As the industry starts to move Jeremy Griffith
Head of Government
into peak season, labour issues Relations & Advocacy, APAL Risk underestimated
APAL’s initial assessment of the draft report is that
are becoming a major concern, it underestimates the risk associated with selected
pests and diseases. Importantly, if trade is allowed,
particularly during the peak the government will need to implement very robust
period of early February. import requirements.
APAL continues to lobby the federal and state
governments in regard to this process, as well as
working with the wider horticultural industry to ensure
Labour shortages the industry is effectively protected. There is no
As previously discussed, the likelihood of any prescribed time when the government needs to issue
significant opening up of international borders to its Final Report, but it is expected to be during 2021.
allow in backpackers or large numbers of seasonal
workers is unlikely in the current environment. State Health Star Rating (HSR)
governments have been allowing small groups of threatened for fruit juices
seasonal workers into the country, but due to the cost
of quarantining, numbers have been very limited. The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum
Industry continues to call for both streamlined and on Food Regulation has opted to postpone its
subsidised quarantine requirements (including a Pacific decision on the proposed changes to the health star
Island Travel bubble) to be implemented urgently. rating for fruit and vegetables until February 2021.
Growers continue to report that contractors A 2019 review of the Health Star Rating (HRS)
have not been able to fulfil requests for labour and the System recommended changing the way the rating
quality of labour that is being provided is very poor. was calculated for fresh juice and other non-dairy
Selected state governments and the federal drinks. Under the revised model, 100 per cent fresh
government have provided, in some cases, significant juice (with no added sugar) could receive a star
financial accommodation and travel incentives to rating between 2 and 3.5 stars due to its natural
attract workers to regional areas. However, to be sugar content In contrast, artificially sweetened
effective, the guidelines and bureaucracy need to soft drink could receive 3.5 stars.
be radically overhauled to make it practical to attract APAL, along with Citrus Australia, and the
actual workers. National Farmers Federation, has advocated against
the lack of common sense being applied to the
No silver bullet rating system and argued that all fresh juice should
The government is not going to be able to deliver receive an automatic star rating of 4 stars.
an effective short-term solution to this problem. As As a starting point, at its recent meeting on
growers have already recognised, there is an urgent November 27, the Forum agreed to give further
need to prioritise labour requirements, particularly in consideration to the issue.
the lead up to peak requirements in February. The Forum has requested further advice in
relation to adjusting the HSR calculator for 100 per
US apples to Australia cent fruit and vegetable juices (no added sugar) for
its next meeting in February 2021.
As previously advised, the federal government is
currently assessing whether it will allow the US to Lobby your local MPs
export apples into Australia. It has issued a draft APAL will continue to lobby, but growers are
Import Risk Assessment to consider the biosecurity encouraged to lobby their local federal and state
risks associated with allowing imported apples members to allow an automatic 4-star rating for
into Australia. fresh juice (no added sugar). AFG
The report has highlighted 24 exotic pests
and diseases that could be potentially be imported,
including Fire Blight, Leaf Curling Midge, and
European Canker.
A PA L.O R G.A U AFG SUMMER 2020 | 5
A PA L N E W S
“Since its establishment in 1997, APFIP has
provided our industry with independent evaluations
APAL looks forward to of 219 apple and 90 pear cultivars through its variety
evaluation trials and this program continues to
building APFIP services grow,” Justin said.
APFIP also implemented a certification system
for rootstock and trees that enables growers to
ALISON BARBER & TOM FRANKCOMB
access new propagating material that is free from
the most detrimental viruses, is true to type and
New variety and rootstock evaluations, meets prescribed standards.
“Our goal is to build on this strong legacy to
importation quarantine management and create more frequent and timely engagement with
growers through our Future Orchards® programs
tree certification services to industry formerly and communications,” Justin said.
delivered by the Australian Pome Fruit APAL will continue to deliver variety evaluations
at sites across the country.
Improvement Program (APFIP), will now be Access to information on new varieties is a
delivered by APAL. high priority for growers wanting to choose the best
varieties for their region and climate and that are
capable of producing good packouts of high-quality
APAL and APFIP agreed in November that APAL fruit to match consumer preferences.
will take over the delivery of the services and Tom Tasmania-based Variety Development
Frankcomb, currently APFIP Operations Manager, Manager Tom Frankcomb has been in the operations
has joined APAL as Variety Development Manager. manager role at APFIP since October 2018 and is a
Justin Smith, APAL’s Industry Services Manager former Huon Valley grower, Marcus Oldham graduate
said the new arrangements provide greater long-term and Nuffield scholar.
certainty, remove the reliance on grower levies and Tom said he was excited by the new
coincide with APAL taking over management of arrangements and the opportunity to deliver variety
Future Orchards® program. development services through APAL for Australian
apple and pear growers. AFG
A PA L.O R G.A U AFG SUMMER 2020 | 7
EXPORT
In 2020, the highest priorities for
Strategy sets export market Australian apple export growth are:
priorities Market improvements for China,
J E N N Y VA N D E M E E B E R G – A PA L Japan, Thailand and Canada.
Market access for Taiwan and
APAL has developed a Technical Market Access Vietnam.
Strategy for both apples and pears to prioritise
the new market access and market improvement
the apple export opportunity for Australian growers;
priorities of the Australian industry. this data evidences an improvement in value per
piece over time.
The Australian apple unit-value in 2009 was
This roadmap combines an overview of existing
About the author: 69 per cent higher than the world average. This
technical market access status with industry Jenny Van de Meeberg is
increased in 2019 to 89 per cent higher than the
preferences for future market access and market APAL’s Head of Trade.
world average. Australia’s increase in unit-value means
improvement from a technical point of view, in line
we have moved exports to the premium end of the
with available supporting efficacy data for the
market which yields a higher return.
treatment of pests and disease.
Over the past ten years, the largest market
The Technical Market Access Strategy should
for Australian apples has consistently been Papua
be read in conjunction with the Apple & Pear Export
New Guinea, representing almost 20 per cent of all
Market Development Strategy (McKinna 2017) which
exports. Other Pacific Island imports are individually
was an economic analysis of market opportunities
negligible however cumulatively, they total another
from a commercial perspective. Since completing
5 per cent, meaning almost a quarter of all Australian
the Technical Market Access Strategies in mid-2020,
apple exports are bound for the Pacific region. It is
APAL has communicated industry’s market access
worth noting however, the average unit-value of
and market improvement priorities to Government,
apples exports into the Pacific is lower than markets
and worked with technical experts to engage with
in Asia, Europe, or the Middle East, indicating it is
some of Australia’s bilateral trading partners to
a good destination for non-premium fruit.
discuss issues and consider solutions.
Demographic and economic indicators suggest the
The Technical Market Access Strategy is a
Pacific Islands are unlikely to see significant demand
living document that will be continually updated by
growth or become consumers of premium-priced
APAL as new scientific evidence becomes available
fruit, which means these markets are not a feature
and negotiations with trading partners progress.
of McKinna’s 2017 Apple & Pear Export Market
Whilst this body of work will take many years to
Development Strategy due to their modest
transpire, APAL is proactively working to bring the
commercial opportunity.
industry closer to unlocking new potential markets
Over the same decade, stand-out markets
for Australian exporters.
with exceptional growth have been Hong Kong
If you are interested in apple and pear exports
and China (which is only supplied with Tasmanian
or have questions about market access, please
produce). They are now the second and fourth
contact APAL Head of Trade, Jenny Van de Meeberg,
largest export destinations for Australian apples
at jenny@apal.org.au
respectively. In South-East Asia, Singapore has
been the most consistent market since 2009, whilst
Apple trade overview Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia have been the
In 2019, exports of Australian apples totalled 4,251 least consistent, fluctuating greatly between years.
tonnes worth A$9.8 million (International Trade Finally, a unique feature of Australian apple
Centre (ITC), calculations based on Australia Bureau exports is their footprint in Europe which is unusual
of Statistics). Export represented 1 per cent of total in Australian horticulture. Combined, European
apple production, with the remaining 69 per cent countries represent almost 23 per cent of Australian
being consumed by the domestic market and 30 apple export trade with Italy, Belgium, Netherlands
per cent being used by the processing industry1. and France showing tremendous growth over the
Apples are Australia’s 13th largest fruit export last few years.
by value and 11th largest by volume1. Between Taiwan and China are two of the highest
1 2018-2019 Australian
2009 and 2019, Australian apple exports have Horticulture Statistics priorities for apple market access and improvements.
decreased in volume by 16 per cent but increased in Handbook In Taiwan, where Australia seeks to gain access,
value by 26 per cent. This is critical to understanding the average unit-value in 2019 was AUD$2.31 kg
8 | AFG SUMMER 2020 A PA L.O R G.A U
EXPORT
and the New Zealand product averaged AUD$2.40 kg
whilst holding 12 per cent market share (ITC In 2020, the highest priorities for
calculations based on Directorate General of
Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance Australian pear export growth are:
statistics). Similarly, in China, the average unit-value
in 2019 was AUD$2.52 kg and the New Zealand Market improvements for New
product averaged AUD$3.16 kg whilst holding 43 Zealand and Thailand.
per cent market share (ITC calculations based on
General Customs Administration of China statistics). Market access for Taiwan, China and
Clearly, there is room for Australia to compete and Vietnam.
win substantive market share at a commercially
viable price point. High-value Asian markets have
a proven record of paying for high-quality imported
fruit which makes them an ideal fit for Australian
and therefore the Australian opportunity. Using this
apple exporters operating above the global average
rationale, access to the market in Taiwan, China and
unit-value in their category.
Vietnam are of particular interest to the Australian
These statistics show that Australian apple
pear industry.
exports continue to grow and investments in
In Taiwan, where Australia is seeking to
technical market access and market improvements
gain access, the average unit-value in 2019 was
will yield positive returns for the industry and the
AUD$2.69 kg and the New Zealand product averaged
Australian economy.
AUD$2.78 kg whilst holding 12 per cent market share
(ITC calculations based on Directorate General of
Pear trade overview Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance
In 2019, exports of Australian pears totalled statistics). Similarly, in China, the average unit-value
9,860 tonnes worth A$18.3 million (ITC calculations in 2019 was AUD$2.37 kg and the New Zealand
based on Australia Bureau of Statistics). Export product averaged AUD$3.39 kg whilst holding 5
represented 8 per cent of total pear production, with per cent market share (ITC calculations based on
the remaining 58 per cent being consumed by the General Customs Administration of China statistics).
domestic market and 34 per cent being used by Clearly, there is room for Australia to compete and
the processing industry1. win substantive market share at a commercially
Pears are Australia’s 12th largest fruit export by viable price point. High-value Asian markets have
value and sixth largest by volume1. Australian pear a proven record of paying for high-quality imported
exports have grown 45 per cent between 2009 and fruit which makes them an ideal fit for Australian
2019 and, despite slight down-turns in some years, pear exporters operating above the global average
the overall trajectory is positive over a ten-year period. unit-value in their category.
During this same period, global pear exports The Apple & Pear Export Market Development
rose by 51 per cent, meaning Australia performed Strategy, written in 2017, projected the Australian
in line with international trends, albeit with greater pear industry could export up to 12,300 tonnes by
year-on-year fluctuations. 2022 if targeted strategies were put in place. The
Between 2009 and 2019, Australian pear industry eclipsed this target in 2018 but was not able
exports increased their unit-value by 18 per cent. to sustain the growth into 2019. This peak, albeit
This is important because it indicates exporters short lived, is evidence that the Australian pear
are successfully increasing the price premium on industry holds great potential and is likely to exceed
Australian pears whilst continuing to grow export this tonnage target before 2022. This is noteworthy
volume. In simple terms, this means a higher price since the export strategy framed it as a ‘stretch
per piece and more pieces being sold. goal’ in 2017.
Over the past ten years, stand-out markets Furthermore, the export strategy’s tonnage
with exceptional growth include NZ, Indonesia, target was also translated into a value target based
and Singapore which, when combined, represented on average prices for Australian pear exports at
almost 62 per cent of total pear exports in 2019. the time. The export strategy projected a goal of
Pacific Islands including New Caledonia, Fiji, AUD$16.1 million by 2022. In 2019, the value of
Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia continue trade was AUD$18.3 million. This means although
to take small but consistent volumes of product less volume was exported, more value was captured.
which, over the years, has slowly increased but is not This is a terrific achievement by pear exporters.
significant enough to make a meaningful impact on These statistics show that Australian pear
overall trade. For perspective, the Pacific Islands’ exports continue to grow and investments in
combined imports put them on par with Singapore technical market access and market improvements
(the pear industry’s fourth largest export market). will yield positive returns for the industry and the
Understanding a market’s average import price Australian economy. AFG
helps estimate the size of the premium segment
A PA L.O R G.A U AFG SUMMER 2020 | 9
SECURING LABOUR
Harvest labour:
thinking outside the box
By Judy Kennedy
With harvest labour shortages looming this season, growers
already harvesting cherries, summer fruit and other fruit share
the strategies they are using to attract and retain workers.
Photo: Pip Farquharson
10 | A F G S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 A PA L.O R G.A USECURING LABOUR
COVID-19 has severely limited the number of
summer workers. Backpacker numbers are down
51.4 per cent due to the COVID-19 pandemic Fiona Hall leads the
and only 6,600 of the usual 12,000 people in the COVID-Safe plan at BiteRiot
Seasonal Worker Programme have been able to by example.
travel to Australia.
Few Australians have taken up state and
federal government incentives to do harvest work.
This is despite a $3 million campaign in Western
Australia, $17 million in Victoria, $1.9 million in
Tasmania and $1.1 million in Queensland1 .
As apple and pear growers prepare for the
coming harvest, the experience of those already
harvesting earlier crops provides valuable insights
and some outside the box strategies they are using
to attract and retain workers.
Workers undergo temperature
Fiona Hall, NSW – cherries safety checks and induction
(right and bottom)
Novel solutions to offset and (middle) it's the second
year back for grey nomads
shortage Alison, who is doing receivals
and quality assurance,
and Mick (dispatch forklift
Encouraging workers to sign agreements to ensure driving) Peters.
they turn up and providing accommodation for
up to 50 Sydney private school leavers who would
normally be at Schoolies Week or taking a gap
year are just a few of cherry and apple grower and
marketer Fiona Hall’s strategies to attract harvest
labour in NSW.
Fiona is managing director of BiteRiot and
packs cherries for around a dozen growers at
Orange and Mudgee who require 1000 pickers over
the season, with 800 employed at the peak of harvest.
“In August, after hearing stories about people
finding only a quarter of the staff they’d been
promised had turned up, we began asking workers
to sign a commitment to lock them in,” Fiona said.
“For the past six weeks we’ve been asking
grey nomads, school leavers, university students
and whatever backpackers we can get to confirm
their arrival and length of stay, but it’s challenging 1 https://
– for each one we get, we lose one, and we’re pacificlabourmobility.com.au/
media
competing against the grain harvest.
“The problem too is that these are
inexperienced pickers, so we’re expecting a big
turnover of staff and we’ll need to throw a lot of
resources at it. JobKeeper allows the Aussies to
stay home.”
Fiona has turned to some novel solutions
to ensure harvest runs smoothly, on the back of
holding some fruit back and thinning the cherry
crop more than normal.
“We’ve got a team of kids from private
schools in Sydney who are coming with some
parents as supervisors and we’ll provide
accommodation in campsites and the council-
owned Scout hall, as well as the local university
residential halls,” she explained. “We’ve invited 50
and 15 have already committed.”
“We’ll work with council to ensure that it’s
comfortable, regularly cleaned accommodation
A PA L.O R G.A U AFG SUMMER 2020 | 11SECURING LABOUR
and that PPE is supplied. We may have to pay more “We sifted through an enormous number
than usual to keep the workers here.” of applications under JobSeeker without finding
She says the company has already completed many staff, which was frustrating, and the state
its COVID-19 Safety Plan and the installation of a government’s campaign ‘Work and Wander out
larger cherry grader will allow more distancing. Yonder’ was not very successful either.”
Workers will have their temperatures monitored From September to February, Delroy Orchards
and use a QR code to check into the facilities, and in Pemberton, 350km from Perth, employs 50 to
visitors will be asked to confirm they’re not from 60 casual staff and a similar number work at the
a COVID-19 hotspot. Donnybrook Packing Co, which packs more than
“The impact of COVID-19 detection in our half the state’s avocados for Coles, Woolworths
orchards or packhouse at such an intense time and Aldi supermarkets.
would be an absolute disaster, as it would mean Fortunately Russell’s biggest avocado growing
a complete shutdown,” Fiona said. client brought in 50 seasonal workers from the
“Workers won’t need to wear masks. We’ve eastern states in April–May and retained them for
recently upgraded our cherry grading shed with the October harvest, but he says the industry’s
a bigger grader so that means we can socially reliance on backpackers and the Seasonal Worker
distance a lot more.” Programme (SWP) is problematic.
The company is also reviewing its export “We wanted to employ 40 East Timorese
markets in light of delays in China’s inspection of staff but they went home in February and couldn’t
some agricultural imports from Australia. get back in June. We’ve lobbied hard to bring them
Last year 60 per cent of BiteRiot’s exports – in again and offered to pay for accommodation and
half the cherry crop – went to China, but Fiona COVID-19 testing, but it’s a Federal Government
says this season is likely to see a lot more volume issue and it’s a slow bureaucratic process,” he says.
into Vietnam and South Korea, as well as Malaysia, “Smaller growers are getting family and
Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore to spread friends to help them harvest on the weekends and
the risk. they’re getting through it, but without the SWP I’m
worried about the prospects for cherry and apple
Russell Delroy, WA – avocados growers in the New Year.”
He says the company stopped short of
Improve conditions to attract increasing wages to attract workers.
workers Russell Delroy “We’ve increased the pay rate a bit but we’re
Photo: supplied more inclined to improve conditions like picking
The workforce looks very different this summer
for avocado harvest in Delroy Orchards and the
Donnybrook Packing Company in Western
Australia, and Russell Delroy says they’re lucky
that it’s a small crop.
“We tried to employ a lot more Australians
but productivity dropped significantly and the
managers have been consumed by labour issues
day after day, whether it’s people not showing up,
finding that they can’t handle physical work, or
the induction of inexperienced workers and
implementing the COVID-19 Safety Plan,”
Russell says.
We’ve increased the pay rate
a bit but we’re more inclined
to improve conditions …
– Russell Delroy
12 | A F G S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 A PA L.O R G.A USECURING LABOUR
up the cost of accommodation and transport.
Backpackers are also being poached by the grain
belt where they only need a couple of people and
might pay $35/hr, whereas we can’t afford that for
60 people.”
Farms that supply on-site accommodation
for staff have had an easier time securing and
maintaining workers, but Russell says that’s not
something that can be done quickly.
“The State Government said they’d fast-track
accommodation on farms but the bureaucracy
around that has gotten worse, not better.”
Nathan Baronio, QLD – strawberries
Harvest Army campaign
Growers in Queensland’s Granite Belt launched a
social media campaign in July calling for people to
join their Harvest Army and fill 4000 jobs on local
fruit and vegetable farms over summer.
Strawberry grower Nathan Baronio from
Eastern Colour at Applethorpe says so far the Nathan Baronio
Granite Belt Growers website has attracted more
than 3200 visits and they’ve received 900
applications for jobs under the tag #harvestarmy.
While it’s a good result, Nathan is worried Experienced Pacific Labour
that there won’t be enough workers for the peak Scheme workers from East
Timor and Vanuatu make up
of fruit and vegetable harvest in March, especially part of the Eastern Colour
since other regions are advertising now as well. harvest team.
A PA L.O R G.A U AFG SUMMER 2020 | 13SECURING LABOUR
“Although we started advertising mid-year,
most people’s focus was on providing safe work
environments to contain the spread of COVID-19.
They thought things would be back to normal by
summer or we’d have a vaccine, so there wasn’t
enough urgency dedicated to our looming labour
shortage,” Nathan says.
“It’s shaping up to be a really big strawberry
harvest but we’ve already had to walk away from a
2.5 hectare block and left about 100,000 punnets,
because we don’t have the workers.”
Wages over winter were around 20 per
cent higher than normal and that trend looks like
continuing. Nathan is advising growers to ‘get
creative’ about offering extra incentives to
attract workers.
“Whether that’s offering accommodation,
meals, bonus systems, higher rates of pay, split
shifts or staff parties, people need to do whatever
they can to make it an environment that workers
want to come to.”
To make up his regular harvest workforce of
200, he’ll be relying on local people and experienced
Tim Reid workers from East Timor and Vanuatu who’ve
… ‘get creative’ about been based in the region for the past 17 months
under the Pacific Labour Scheme.
offering extra incentives to “We need to start training more Australians
attract workers. to pick and pack fruit and vegetables, to reduce
our reliance on international workers. Short term,
– Nathan Baronio we need to increase the Seasonal Worker
Programme and perhaps put these experienced
Hardev Bhatti pictured (lt) incoming workers into modified quarantine on
with Greater Shepparton
councillor Shane Sali thinned farms,” Nathan says.
hard early to reduce crop
load in anticipation of labour Tim Reid, Tas – cherries
shortages.
Thousands apply for hundreds
of jobs in Tasmania
Tasmania has remained free of COVID-19 cases
and that’s made a difference to the availability of
harvest labour.
In the Huon Valley south-west of Hobart,
Tim Reid has received 2500 applications for the
300 jobs in Reid Fruits’ packhouse for what’s
expected to be a harvest of more than 2000
tonnes of premium cherries.
“We’re located right on the Huon Highway so
there’s usually no shortage of packing labour and
we use a recruiting agency to find pickers that we
put on our payroll,” Tim explained.
“Luckily we still have access to the
international university students who remained
in Hobart during the pandemic, and to a really
good pool of Nepalese, Bhutanese and Sudanese
immigrants.
14 | A F G S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 A PA L.O R G.A USECURING LABOUR
“We’re fortunate in that we get a lot of repeat
workers.”
Reid Fruits is one of Australia’s largest cherry
producers, exporting cherries to more than 20
countries across Europe, Asia, North America and
the Middle East, and grows a smaller quantity of
apples in the Derwent Valley.
“Our biggest concerns this season were
labour, compliance with COVID-19 requirements,
and finding freight options for export, and we’ve
got most of that sorted,” Tim said.
“We usually rely 100 per cent on air freight
and that could be a concern as there just aren’t as
many flights available due to COVID-19, so we’ve
decided to send some cherries via sea freight to
Asian destinations with short voyage times, which
we’ve done successfully in the past.
“With Christmas followed by the Chinese
New Year there’ll be a lot of live seafood and
aquaculture products as well as cherries and berries
looking to fly out of Tasmania at the same time
in January.”
Tim says the company policy of not selling
more than 30 per cent of the cherry crop to one
country has also proved its worth in the current
pandemic.
“We start harvesting cherries in December
Adrian Conti/Hardev Bhatti, Vic –
followed by plums, pears and apples and there’s
cherries, stonefruit going to be problems, no doubt about it. Fruit Malcolm Parker
Focus on less fruit, but higher prices are already a bit higher to reflect the labour Photo: Naomi Jellicoe
Newspix
problem and I think a lot of fruit will go to waste.”
quality Hardev is confident he’ll get 80 per cent of
Apricot harvest is underway at J and D Conti’s his workforce from the contractors and hopes that
orchards at Cobram, Victoria, where 25 workers workers will move south after the harvest is finished
are picking and packing. in Swan Hill.
“Finding workers isn’t an issue for us because
we’re an early orchard, but once businesses start
Malcolm Parker, SA – strawberries
to revive in Melbourne they may go down there. I Adelaide proximity helps the
can see a problem coming for the apple and pear
harvest,” says Adrian Conti. Hills
“There are just no Australians around to take In the Adelaide Hills, Malcolm Parker employs 100
up our job offers, and there’s another workforce to 150 workers through employment agencies from
needed for the big hay and grain crops this year.” October to May and expects the labour situation
The Contis are fortunate in that they employ to be ‘steady as she goes’ for Parker Strawberries,
most of their staff year-round, with extras sourced unless South Australia instigates tougher
from a contractor including Malaysian and Indian COVID-19 restrictions.
workers who have had their work visas extended. The workforce this summer is mainly local
At Shepparton, 60km to the south, a worried contract labour and university students, picking
Hardev Bhatti and his staff have been thinning and packing fruit for the Adelaide fresh markets
stonefruit crops hard so that there is less fruit to and Western Australia.
pick if there’s a labour shortage. Malcolm says they haven’t employed
“It’s better to grow a smaller amount of high- backpackers since the onset of COVID-19 in March
quality large fruit, pick less bins and reduce the cost but are fortunate to be less than 20km from the city,
of picking and storage,” says Hardev, who relies on enabling them to source workers for the strawberries
three contractors to supply pickers and packers. and later, cherry and Gala apple harvest.
“Contractors have previously relied on This has the potential to change, he says,
backpackers to fill a third of the jobs but there are once more crops come online in February and the
very few backpackers here, so it’s no use advertising university and school students return to start a
on Facebook or social media for them. new term. AFG
A PA L.O R G.A U AFG SUMMER 2020 | 15SECURING LABOUR
There are also many university and secondary
Finding workers this season school students who are interested in finding
horticulture work. The university vacation period
usually goes from mid November to mid March,
– some things to consider making this group a potentially reliable workforce.
The difficult factor in accessing recently
BY GAVIN KRAKE unemployed Australian workers is that they will be
largely based in the city or larger regional centres,
Harvest workforce planning is doubly critical while most horticulture is not. It will be a big
decision for someone to leave their home and
this season. MADEC's Gavin Krake reviews family in the city to travel to the regions, source
available labour and some strategies for accommodation, and take up seasonal work, even
in the short term. It will be up to individual growers
securing it. and the horticulture industry to make sure they
make it as attractive as possible for this potential
working cohort if it is required.
It is now about nine months since the COVID-19 About the author:
pandemic started to have a significant impact in
Gavin Krake Relocation assistance
Australia, with the first national movement Manager Harvest Trail Relocation assistance of up to $6000 is available
Information Service, MADEC for Australian residents and up to $2000 for visa
restrictions commencing on 18 March. Much has
happened since that time with restrictions becoming holders who have to move more than 90 minutes
more stringent, then easing, before being reinstated away from where they normally live to take up
in Victoria and then lifted again. Likewise, border short-term agriculture work for at least six weeks.
restrictions have changed from open to closed, In the short time they have been available these
to partially open, and at the time of writing it is incentives have proved a useful aid in encouraging
anticipated that all states will lift entry restrictions people to move from metropolitan locations to
by Christmas. Inbound and outbound international regional towns to take up work.
travel remains limited.
Backpackers
Impact on workers The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact
Not surprisingly many of these changes have had on the backpacker workforce with many of these
a major impact on the horticultural workforce – potential workers leaving the country since March.
particularly for the availability of seasonal workers Compared to the February 29 base of 143,041,
to pick and pack fruit and vegetables – with harvest backpacker numbers are now down 51.4 per cent, and
labour shortages forecast. they are returning home at the rate of about 6–7000
Government and industry have worked per month. Many more are expressing a desire to
together to remove obstacles and provide return to their home countries before Christmas.
significant incentives to maximise that availability As much of the country starts to reopen
of labour including grants of up to $6000 for and hospitality jobs return, those backpackers
Australians relocating to regional areas to take up who remain may drift back to those jobs which
harvest or agricultural work. they prefer. In the meantime they will largely have
The workforce mainly comprises three undertaken the 88 days of horticulture work which
distinct types of workers who have all been affected will qualify them for the second visa should they
differently by COVID-19 restrictions. wish to apply for it. Few will choose horticulture
over hospitality or other jobs if they have a choice,
Australian residents so many will not return to horticulture unless they
really have to.
Unfortunately, a large number of Australian residents
have recently found themselves unemployed and
potentially available for horticulture work.
Unemployment overall is predicted to increase
even further as JobKeeper payments reduce and
are phased out.
This creates a new pool of Australians with a Minimise barriers such as access to budget
proven employment record, who may be available
to fill horticulture positions. Growers may need to accommodation and transport.
rethink stereotypes about the reliability and
productivity of Australian workers if they want to
maintain the workforce they need. This will be a
new resource they can tap into.
16 | A F G S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 A PA L.O R G.A USECURING LABOUR
The Government has made it clear that
incoming visitors to Australia are unlikely to be
accepted until at least 2021, so the pool of available
backpackers is likely to be very small for the
foreseeable future.
Seasonal Worker Programme
Fortunately very few Seasonal Worker Programme
(SWP) workers have left the country since the start
of the pandemic, mainly due to a lack of flights to
their home country and the extension of visas to
enable them to stay in the country for longer.
However, the Commonwealth Government
has recently announced a restart of the SWP with
two plane loads of Vanuatu workers arriving in
Darwin and flights recently arrived in Queensland.
unviable – they need to do the maths. Which
Arrivals are also imminent in WA, Tasmania and
will cost more, paying extra for labour or losing
Victoria. Every state has now opted in to the restart, Every state has now opted
the crop because it remains unpicked?
however it will take some time before significant in to restart the Seasonal
Worker Programme.
numbers of workers arrive into the country under – Minimise barriers such as access to budget
this program. The need for these workers to accommodation and transport. Having suitable Photo: Darren James
undertake 14 days quarantine (paid by the grower), on-farm accommodation always assists in Photography.
makes this an expensive option. encouraging workers to advertised vacancies,
rather than other businesses. Even cheap
What to consider? caravans on the farm at low rent will entice
workers. Organising rides in and out of town can
With a rapidly changing environment and the
increase the potential labour pool significantly
real potential for significant shortages of unskilled
to attract those without their own transport.
labour looming, workforce planning takes on a
critical role for any business reliant on external – Seek Australian students and residents from
labour to pick, pack or manage crops. nearby towns and have an open mind as to how
With previous workforce employment many of these workers may perform, particularly
models now effectively redundant, a lot more if they have recently left secure employment
thought needs to be put into determining and have a well-developed work ethic. State
workforce needs well in advance and implementing and commonwealth governments now have
strategies to secure a workforce in a competitive a range of incentives in place to encourage
environment. workers to travel to regional areas to take up
– Make sure vacancies are listed on the Harvest horticulture work. Disclaimer:
This article is intended
Trail website. The Harvest Trail is the Federal – If it is not possible to secure your workforce to provide access to
Government program funded for this purpose and advertising is needed, make sure this is information and resources to
nationally, so all listings contribute to the promote an understanding
done well in advance to give people time to of work and travel restrictions
Government’s understanding of labour needs plan their movements, particularly if they are in response to COVID-19.
as well as attracting the attention of people coming from interstate. This article contains links to
looking for work. There are a number of state- Obviously having well developed COVID-19 websites that are operated
based labour sites in response to state initiatives. by third parties not under
management strategies and health plans in place the control of MADEC
Growers who list on these sites are encouraged is critical to ensuring a workforce remains safe. Australia (MADEC). Unless
to also list on the Harvest Trail site. expressly stated MADEC
does not approve, endorse
– Get in early. Don’t wait until a couple of weeks Harvest Trail can help or recommend any
information, products or
before harvest before seeking a workforce, If you are looking for harvest workers anywhere services referred to or on
even for growers able to do so in the past. in Australia, the Harvest Trail Information Service
the third-party websites.
can help. A simple call to the Contact Centre on To the maximum extent
– Growers need to make sure they are a desirable
possible, MADEC excludes
employer. They will be competing for staff 1800 062 332 is all it takes or go to harvesttrail.gov.au liability for any loss suffered
against other growers and other industries, so to lodge vacancies independently. The Contact as a result of access to or use
of third-party websites, or
they need to give workers a reason to come to Centre consultants can assist with finding suitable reliance on the information
them and not somebody else. people and the service costs nothing to use. Also, contained therein. The terms
people looking for horticulture work can see any and conditions of use and
– Consider the unthinkable – offer above-award privacy policies of the
listed vacancies on the website and can get up-to- third-party websites will
wages, higher piece rates or bonuses. Even if
date information on all aspects of harvest jobs by apply to the users of those
the grower considers that option financially websites.
speaking to Contact Centre staff. AFG
A PA L.O R G.A U AFG SUMMER 2020 | 17S TAT E R O U N D U P
New South Wales
KEVIN DODDS & JESSICA FEARNLEY
Orange
At the time of writing, flowering in Orange was
getting close to the final stages, with the orchards
around the district displaying picturesque views and
a buzz of activity.
Wet conditions are forecast for the next few
weeks which will enable a good soil moisture profile
heading into the growing season. Although the rain
is welcomed, the conditions do increase disease
pressures in the area, with growers encouraged to
continually monitor their blocks.
Some growers are a little concerned about
securing labour, with others focussing on targeting
school leavers to come and work in the orchards.
The Future Orchard bud dissection trial (see
page 62) has provided a good indication of the amount
of fruit that can be expected on blocks, allowing
growers to make decisions around pruning and fruit
thinning. Results indicated that Gala and Fuji varieties
About the authors:
may require a pruning adjustment due to the larger Kevin Dodds &
amount of vegetative buds than flowering buds. Jessica Fearnley
Along with the bud dissection trial, there was a NSW Department of Primary
Industries
positive response to the value adding survey across
the district, with data currently being analysed.
Batlow & Bilpin
The post-bushfire clean-up continued at Batlow and Flowering at Orange is well
Bilpin over the winter months, with many dangerous underway.
boundary trees and damaged orchard blocks now
removed. The first of the NSW Bushfire Supply
Chain Support grants have begun to flow into the
districts, giving growers the confidence to begin
Bud dissection in late
re-establishing the damaged blocks. For some, the dormancy can help guide affected growers have picked themselves up,
site prep and establishment workload has been more pruning strategies. embraced the external support and moved on
significant than usual, but it’s great to see trees with such a positive outlook is to be commended.
going back in the ground. The recent release of the NSW DPI and state industry stakeholders this
Commonwealth Government Bushfire – Apple year celebrate the 60th edition of the Orchard plant
Recovery Grants complements the NSW funding protection guide for deciduous fruits in NSW. The
and will greatly help with the cost of bringing the milestone was the focus of a 10-minute feature on
new and recovered blocks into normal production. ABC Landline on Sunday 18 October which featured
Conditions over flowering and fruit set have current and former DPI staff and Sydney Basin
been favourable and growers report good fruitlet growers the Silms and Faheys. It was a wonderful
numbers ahead of hand thinning, particularly in story about the guide and its support for
blocks that were not directly impacted by fire. Some multigenerational orcharding families in NSW
of the bushfire blocks have exhibited a more variable since 1960.
bloom and set. Hopefully, a good growing season NSW temperate fruit growers will be able to
will help see these blocks return to a more uniform collect a hard copy of the guide from selected Local
flowering in spring 2021. Land Services offices and selected rural retailers in
Throughout the bushfire response and their regions
recovery, we have once again observed the amazing Find the online guide here:
resilience and positive spirit of our orchardists in NSW. NSW DPI's Orchard plant
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/
It’s been a very challenging time, and there’s still protection guide celebrates pests-diseases-hort/information-for-multiple-crops/
a long road to recovery, but the way in which the 60 years. orchard-plant-protection-guide.
18 | A F G S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 A PA L.O R G.A US TAT E R O U N D U P
About the author: Good quality apples have been of good value
Michael Crisera and pears improving, although value for pear exports
Victoria Fruit Growers
Victoria Ltd
is still not where we need it.
For processing fruit, growers are waiting for
MICHAEL CRISERA
2021 intake tonnages from SPC after a positive
season for processed fruit and juice pricing.
Early estimations of 2021 crops look to be varying
across all varieties throughout Victoria with it being
slightly early to call. Blossom periods have seen
more mild than warm temperatures for fruit set
and good pollination being the key to setting crops.
A relatively wet start to spring has meant busy
periods on the spray pumps for most growers and
excessive shoot growth on apples especially. On the
upside water allocations are already at 93 per cent
in the Goulburn and dams are full in southern Vic.
Growers are encouraged to communicate
regularly with approved employers of Pacific
Island seasonal workers and enter commercial
arrangements to get flights occurring. Australian
Quarantine costs seem to be a barrier now.
Early hand thinning is needed on Gala
varieties with Pinks seemingly shedding out for
minimal hand thinning. All blossom dates have been
5–7 days ahead of last season. FGV also urges its
grower members to prepare early for harvest labour
especially during the peak month of February in New season William Bartlett
pears, Kalafatis Fresh Produce,
the Goulburn Valley.
spring 2020.
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